Opinion: Trump is a dunce but Clinton's no angel

If elected, Hillary Clinton will be one of the most unpopular Presidents in US history (Reuters)

Let's face it; neither candidate in this US presidential election has appeared completely honest or truly inspirational.

Slings and arrows have been fired from both sides, and indeed from within the candidates' own political parties.

While Donald Trump has received his fair share of criticism for some outlandish claims and behaviour, Hillary Clinton's reputation has also taken a roll or two in the mud, and the stains on her expensive pant suit are there for all to see.

Most Americans simply don't trust or like the former US Secretary of State and First Lady.

Blame her husband and former impeached president Bill Clinton, point the finger at her tainted multi-billion dollar Clinton Foundation, or roll your eyes again over her salacious private email scandal - it's easy to see why Hillary Clinton is unloved.

Social reformer Bernie Sanders was initially championed by the left to be the Democrat candidate.

Unfortunately Sanders' policies - including his 'Medicare for All' plan, based on the free health care systems of Scandinavian countries and indeed New Zealand - were viewed as too socialist by mainstream Democrats.

Sanders was also openly 'anti-God', a dangerous road to travel in largely conservative America. Clinton is of course 'pro-God', but her attacks on Sanders during an antagonistic Democratic race were anything but Christian.

Clinton questioned Sanders' judgement to be commander-in-chief, and has since taken the same tone against Trump.

Many Sanders supporters won't be voting for Clinton in the next few hours, but then they won't be voting for Trump either.

If Clinton becomes president there will be a fierce backlash against her from day one. Any hope for unity based on her 'stronger together' campaign slogan will quickly turn into a pipe dream.

Trump probably won't acknowledge her victory, and a good proportion of Americans won't either.

There'll be little of the feel-good, history-making vibe of Obama's win eight years ago.

While Clinton will make her own history by becoming the first female president of the United States, her 'breaking the glass ceiling' moment will sadly be overshadowed by the controversy and suspicion that will follow her into the Oval Office.